PUNE: An Additional Sessions court on Thursday rejected the bail application of Dr Virendra Tawde, an alleged western commander of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), an offshoot of the right-wing Sanatan Sanstha group, in the murder case of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar.

The CBI, which arrested Tawde in June last year, has termed him as a key conspirator in the case. The agency filed a chargesheet in September in a special court here. The CBI opposed bail stating Tawde may influence witnesses in the case. Also, two accused, Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar. are still absconding.

Tawde has claimed that the agency does not have sufficient evidence against him. Even after filling of a chargesheet, charges are yet to be framed against him. After hearing both sides, Additional Sessions Judge RN Sardesai rejected the bail application. Dabholkar was killed on August 20, 2013 on the bridge near Omkareshwar Temple while he was out on a morning walk.

‘CLOSE CASE AGAINST NAGORI, KHANDELWAL’
Advocate BA Aloor, counsel for Manish Nagori and Vikas Khandelwal, who were arrested and later released on bail, has demanded that the case against them be closed as the CBI has arrested Tawde. The next hearing in is on October 24.